2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Meet the dedicated people behind the scenes
that help keep the Chamber moving!

DAVID SPRAGUE

PRESIDENT

David Sprague,President, Board of Directors of the Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce.

David is a retired Executive with significant experience in both the corporate and not for profit sectors. He enjoyed a 38 year career in the financial services industry, retiring in 2010 as the Executive in charge of Retail Banking for Southern Alberta. As a second career, he was the inaugural CEO of Agriculture for Life, Inc., a not for profit organization engaged in delivery of creative programs largely aimed at children on food education and farm safety.

Always active in his community, David was a 6 year member of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce holding positions as Chair of the Finance Committee and Long Range Planning Committee. He was the Chair of the Board of Directors in 2012. While in Calgary, David was a member of the Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations and Chair of the Classroom Agriculture Program. In addition to these activities, David was active in poverty and homelessness reduction, children’s education and gender equality.

Originally from Hamilton Ontario, he lived in Alberta for 12 years and upon retirement moved to Bracebridge in 2014. David is married, with 3 grown children and 9 grandchildren.

NICOLETTE RUSHTON

VICE-PRESIDENT

Nicolette Rushton, Vice-President, Board of Directors of the Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce.

Nicolette Rushton grew up in South Africa and immigrated to Canada in 1996, she moved to Bracebridge in 2000.

Niki started working at CIBC in 2004 as a Customer Service Representative and worked her way up. She was a Financial Advisor for both Small Business and Personal clients for 7 years and is now the Banking Centre Leader for Bracebridge CIBC.

Niki has been married for 10 years and has 2 children. She believes in shopping locally and is an active participant in most local community events. This is the 3rd board that Niki is on (Bracebridge soccer and Macaulay Tree House).

In her leisure time Niki enjoys camping with her family, reading, and being involved in the local community.

STUART GILBERT

Stuart is a partner of the accounting firm Gilbert & Larkin LLP located in Bracebridge, working in the areas of personal and corporate accounting and taxation as well as valuations. Before moving to Bracebridge in 2013, Stuart worked for MNP LLP in Calgary, Alberta in assurance services since 2007. Stuart enjoys playing hockey, golf and baseball in his spare time.

RICHARD BORLAND

DIRECTOR

Richard Borland, Director, Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce

Richard is a Certified Financial Planner with Freedom 55 Financial, a division of London Life Insurance Company. In addition to brokering group insurance and group benefit plans, he develops individual/family financial plans and offers individual insurance products (including Life, Disability, Travel and Critical Illness coverage) as well as individual savings (RRSP, TFSA, RESP and non registered) and income plans (RIF, LIF).

Prior to joining Freedom 55 Financial in 2004, Richard held a number of senior management positions with Johnson & Johnson in Peterborough and was the plant manager at Fenner Dunlop Canada Inc in Bracebridge.

Richard is an active volunteer in our community, being the current Treasurer, a past President and long time member (15 years) of the Rotary Club of Bracebridge. He is the Treasurer for the Muskoka McConnell Foundation. He has also been a past fundraising chairperson for the local Terry Fox Run, and a member of EDAC (Economic Development Advisory Committee) for the town of Bracebridge. Richard has been a long time member of the Board of the Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce (11 years and counting).

Richard obtained his Honours BSc in applied Chemistry from the University of Waterloo in 1983.

GEOFF HEWICK

DIRECTOR

Geoff Hewick, Director, Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce

Geoff is President & CEO of Hewick Benefits Consulting Inc. located in Bracebridge, providing leading edge advice and service related to Corporate Benefits plans and Owner/Executive insurance products. Prior to establishing his own firm, Geoff spent nearly 15 years in various senior roles with companies like London Life, Great-West Life and Blue Cross as well as Vice President and Managing partner of MGA Group Benefits in Mississauga. His clients span the province and through his travels he energetically sings the praises of living and working in Muskoka.

Geoff and his family moved to Muskoka in 2014 to enrich their lifestyle and are dedicated to be involved in the community. He has volunteered as a coach and mentor with the Bracebridge Breakers basketball club and is dedicated to giving back to a sport he played competitively while at the University of Windsor. In his spare time he enjoys working on home renovations, wood working projects, painting and is also is an avid golfer.

Always looking to give back, he is eager to find more ways to be involved in community initiatives that will help Bracebridge and Muskoka grow and thrive.

EMILY MCQUADE

DIRECTOR

Emily McQuade, Director, Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce

Emily McQuade is 32 year old devoted wife to Andrew McQuade and loving mother of 3 beautiful children – Claire (5), AJ (2) & Lily (1). Emily and her family moved to Bracebridge, ON in June of 2013 to enjoy all Muskoka has to offer and escape to busy life style of Burlington / Oakville to raise their family. Emily an energetic and self-motivated individual with soild qualifications in sales, marketing, and customer relations. With over 12 years of sales background she is self confident, driven to succeed and poised in interactions across all business hierarchic; a persuasive communicator and has excellent time management skills.

As part of the move Emily and her husband Andrew envisioned building their own business, which would be the first indoor playground in Muskoka for children 0-10 years old. They’re now proud to say after 3 years of building and developing their indoor playground (The Play Pit), it has now been in operation for 15 months and has been a welcoming addition to not only Bracebridge but also the surrounding areas. In 2016 The Play Pit was nominated for new
Business of the year, as well as Emily was nominated for young entrepreneurs of the year as well as woman entrepreneurs. Emily continues in growing her business with her husband and the support of her community.

When Emily isn’t working hard on maintaining a busy household and managing The Play Pit, she dedicates her time to giving to the community and the school her oldest daughter attends. From hosting charity events at The Play Pit to collect food for the locate food bank & raising money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Muskoka to donating her time to Monck Public School by assisting in coordinating events to raise money for programs to attending those events and doing face painting, among other things. Emily’s life is full but there’s always time to give those who need it and to our community. She looks forward to becoming a bigger part of her community in 2017.

GABRIEL RUBIO

DIRECTOR

Gabriel Rubio, Director, Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce

Owns the Canadian Tire Gas Bars in Bracebridge and Gravenhurst. Won the Best Customer Service award in 2015.
Has a University Business Degree and an MBA in Marketing.
Been in retail since 1988. Arrived in Canada in 2002 from Columbia.
Member of the Bracebridge Rotary Club.
Worked for Exon for 6 years as a marketing coordinator. Worked as the credit and collections manager for Eternit for 3 years.

AUDREY VAN PETEGEM

DIRECTOR

Audrey van Petegem, Director, Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce

Audrey van Petegem grew up in Muskoka and after a 20 year absence has returned to put down some roots and raise her family. An entrepreneur at heart, Audrey is planting some deep roots back here in Bracebridge after purchasing the Muskoka Foundry building. Audrey’s vision for the Muskoka Foundry is to make it a destination spot for locals and tourists alike with the addition of a Brew Pub, Restaurant, Coffee Roaster, Chip Manufacturer and Event Venue space for concerts, weddings and corporate events. Her background is in marketing and strategic planning.

MOREEN MILLER

SECRETARY

Moreen Miller, Secretary, Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce

Moreen is President of Fowler Construction, a construction and aggregate materials company based in Bracebridge. Prior to joining Fowler in 2014, Moreen worked in various roles in the aggregates industry, most recently as the CEO of the Ontario Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (OSSGA). Prior to this, Ms. Miller was Vice-President, Land Management for Lafarge worldwide. She worked internationally in many countries, concentrating on legislation, rehabilitation initiatives, community affairs and sustainable development. Ms. Miller has over twenty five years of experience in the rehabilitation and restoration of industrial landscapes.

She has been involved in many industrial rehabilitation projects across North America, as well as provincial initiatives involving non-renewable resources, policy development, and community sustainability.

Moreen has been involved in many not for profit boards and initiatives over the years, at both the provincial and community level. Her most recent activities have focused on local community initiatives that bring value and long term prosperity to the communities involved.

Moreen is also an appointed Commissioner on the Niagara Escarpment Commission, appointed in 2004.

RICK MALONEY

TOWN COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE

Rick Maloney, Town Council Representative, Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce

Rick is the Macaulay Ward Councillor and Deputy Mayor of the Town of Bracebridge.

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